Proper Use

This medicine should come with a Medication Guide. Read and follow these instructions carefully. Ask your doctor if you have any questions.

To use the skin patch:

Methylphenidate patches come with patient instructions. Read them carefully before using this medicine. It will work only if applied correctly.

Wash your hands with soap and water before and after applying a patch. Do not touch your eyes until after you have washed your hands.

Apply the patch after removing it from the protective pouch. Apply it 2 hours before the desired effect. Do not cut it into smaller pieces and do not touch the sticky surface of the patch.

Apply the patch to a clean, dry, intact skin area on your hip. Choose an area with little or no hair and free of scars, cuts, or irritation. A different place on either hip should be used each day. Avoid putting the patch on areas (eg, waistline) where it could be rubbed off by tight clothing.

Press the patch firmly in place with the palm of your hand for about 30 seconds. Make sure there is good contact with your skin, especially around the edges of the patch.

Do not apply any medicine, cream, or lotion on the skin at the application site before applying the patch.

The patch should stay in place when you are showering, bathing, or swimming. Apply a new patch if one falls off. But, the total amount of time you wear a patch for that day should not be longer than the amount of time your doctor ordered for each day.

Remove the patch about 9 hours after it was applied, or as directed by your doctor.

Dosing

The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

For transdermal dosage form (skin patch):

For attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD):

Adults, teenagers, and children 6 years of age and older—One patch applied on the hip 2 hours before the desired effect.

Children younger than 6 years of age—Use and dose must be determined by the doctor.

Missed Dose

If you forget to wear or change a patch, put one on as soon as you can. If it is almost time to put on your next patch, wait until then to apply a new patch and skip the one you missed. Do not apply extra patches to make up for a missed dose.

Storage

Store the patches at room temperature in a closed container, away from heat, moisture, and direct light.

Keep out of the reach of children.

Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.

Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use.

Do not store unopened or unused patches in the refrigerator or freezer. Throw any used patch away so that children or pets cannot get to it. There is still enough medicine in a used patch to make a child or pet very sick. When throwing away a patch, fold it in half with the sticky sides together and flush it down the toilet, and then wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water. When you stop treatment with this medicine, take all of the leftover patches out of the pouches and flush them down the toilet. Do not flush the pouches or the protective liners down the toilet. Put them in a trash can with a cover. You will also need to throw away old patches after the expiration date has passed.